December 22, 2025 • 36 mins
Texas decided January should belong to scale modelers, and we’re not arguing. We map out two can’t‑miss events—Model Fiesta in New Braunfels and Winter Blitz in College Station—so you can plan builds, book time, and show up ready. From streamlined online registration to judging formats that respect your effort and schedule, this is a practical guide wrapped in pure hobby energy.
We start with Model Fiesta on January 3, hosted by the Alamo Chapter, where clear rules, posted scoring sheets, and an open gold‑silver‑bronze system set a fair stage. Display‑only builders get real love too, with sponsor‑selected special awards that include a Cold War theme, People’s Choice, aerospace, vehicles, sci‑fi, and more. The vendor hall is nearly full—about 140 tables—so expect plenty of aftermarket, kits, and tools, plus a handy location with food nearby. The website makes everything simple: download forms, pay online, and walk in ready.
ModelFiesta
Then we head to Winter Blitz on January 24 at the Museum of the American GI, a venue where restored Shermans and half‑tracks share space with your entries. It’s armor‑centric, fast, and focused: doors at nine, judging by noon, medals on the table, and a short ceremony spotlighting 16 Best Of categories and the sponsors who make it happen. This year’s theme celebrates military support vehicles, and the Tank of the Year target is the 38T in any variant—bring your Hetzer or Marder and go for it. New categories—Brown water Navy, Landing Craft, Helicopters, a P‑47 challenge, and MaschinenKrieger—open the door for more builders without diluting the armor vibe. There’s a Friday soft open for early drop‑off and a group dinner at Tad’s Louisiana Cooking to turn logistics into community.
We also talk Hall of Fame honors for past Best of Show winners, vendors, and a weather policy that keeps the show on unless ice shuts the roads. If you’ve been looking for a reason to finish that support truck, dust off a 38T, or finally paint a P‑47, January in Texas is your cue.
WinterBlitz 2026
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mike (00:15):
Well, Dave, we took a short break from this sort of
thing over the last month, butuh stuff's picking back up in
January for sure.
At least in Texas it is.
Kentucky Dave (00:24):
Yeah.
Mike (00:25):
You know, with the holidays and all, we kind of get
into some time compression andand schedule stuff just comes
over the horizon really quick.
And I I really wish I couldhave got this first show a
representative from the Alamochapter to uh come pitch the
show, but uh I put out a feelerand I I guess it was just too
late.
So first off, I want toapologize to those guys for for
not getting one of them gettingone of their representatives on
(00:46):
the show, but you and I are justgonna do it because uh it's
worth pitching.
I don't think we've everpitched this show in January, if
I'm if I recall.
Kentucky Dave (00:56):
Yeah, I don't think we have.
Mike (00:57):
It's just worth doing because it looks like it's a
really a really fabulous event,Dave.
Kentucky Dave (01:02):
Well, and not only that, but I mean shows in
January are are fewer and farbetween.
And so when they're whenthere's something going on, I I
want to promote it.
Mike (01:14):
All right.
Well, let's see what we can dofor Model Fiesta.
All right.
Well, Model Fiesta is againhosted by the uh Alamo chapter
of the IPMS, and it is January3rd, so barely in January.
Wow.
January 3rd, 2026.
That'll be the first Saturdayin January, which is just barely
12 days away, man.
I know.
(01:35):
Uh, it's gonna be held, Dave,at the New Bromfels Civic
Convention Center in NewBromfels, Texas.
And again, that's on January3rd.
So when does the show open?
Well, they've got vendor set upbeginning at 6 a.m.
on that Saturday through 9 a.m.
So if you're gonna vent there,you better be ready to rock and
roll, man.
(01:56):
Doors open for the contestants,Dave, at 9 a.m.
and show should run to about 5p.m.
Did they say when registrationcuts off?
Model registration live is 9a.m.
to 11 30 a.m.
that morning.
And uh it gets to a good point.
You can do a lot of stuffonline, man.
Their website, by the way, Idon't want to forget to mention
(02:19):
it, is absolutely fantastic.
I don't know who did this forthe club.
They've done a bang up job, andall this is on here, including
registration.
You can pay online, you can getboth the model registration
summary form, which lists allyour entries, and I'll elaborate
on that in just a little bit,but also there's a downloadable
form for your individualentries.
(02:40):
Both these are in PDF and Wordformat.
You can get them right off thewebsite, and through a drop-down
and a cart system, you can payyour adult entry fee, your
junior, and there's also apreteen for uh modelers not
quite teenagers yet, and there'sa general admission.
You can pay all that in advanceon the website.
Kentucky Dave (02:58):
That's nice.
That's it's nice when, andthere's you're seeing more and
more shows go to this where theyare adding more and more to
their websites to both make iteasier for the modeler who's
going to attend to get all thelogistics paperwork out of the
(03:19):
way.
And it makes it easier for theclub because they don't have two
guys sitting at a table and aline of 20 people standing there
holding their models.
Mike (03:30):
That's right.
Well, I encourage folks to takeadvantage of all this, and
we'll link the website in theshow notes.
And this is just really, reallycool.
I was really impressed when Iwent to their website to to do
this for them.
Kentucky Dave (03:42):
Um now are they a one-two-three system or a gold
silver bronze open system?
Mike (03:47):
They are a gold, silver, bronze open system.
Okay.
And all the rules for uh thecontest or the exp exhibition, I
guess you'd call this one, areonline.
All the categories you can finduh find that.
Even the scoring sheets thatwill be used for each category
are right there for you toperuse and see how it's gonna
shake out.
So uh all their scoring sheetsare there for all the all the
(04:11):
entry categories for the for theawarded for the awarded
categories.
Now, they've also got displayonly.
Oh, great.
They got tables for that, andan interesting twist for that
that they're doing, they say newthis year, is that the display
models are eligible for thespecial awards.
Kentucky Dave (04:29):
Oh, well that you know that kind of makes sense.
Mike (04:32):
Well, and the way they're doing this, based on the web
information, is the uh the thejudging freedom to do this is
because it's going to be done bythe the the award sponsors for
the special awards.
So in addition to the best inclass for the for the normal
things, there there's a uh whatit was the best of show, best
young modeler, best aerospace,best military vehicle, all
(04:53):
those, you know, for the for thestandard entry type categories,
the paid entrance, non, thenon-displays, the actual con
contestants.
Uh but the special awards,there's a theme award, and
theme's the Cold War this year.
It's the 50th anniversary ofthe Cold War from 1946 to 1991.
So there's a theme award forthe Cold War, and their graphic
(05:14):
for this is just phenomenal.
It's just really great.
So we'll put that in the teasergraphic.
Kentucky Dave (05:19):
Okay.
Mike (05:20):
People's Choice Award, there's a Tomio Award.
Our friends over at theModelers Without Borders are
doing their Wow Factory Award.
So there'll be a representativefrom that that gang over there
to do that one.
There's a U.S.
Veterans Award, OutstandingFord Vehicle, Iron Resurrection
Award, which is for classic carrestorations and things like
that.
There's one for trucks, it's aKorean War subject, Jolly Green
(05:43):
Award for uh looks like uhhelicopters, rotary wing
aircraft, U.S.
Air Force Award, the MinutemanAward, airlifters.
It goes, there's a lot of them.
Yeah.
Uh Red Star Memorial Award forBest Uh Russian Soviet subject.
And there's just Out of ThisWorld Award for uh Best Space or
Sci-Fi or Real Space.
(06:03):
So it's really, really coolthat the uh the uh display only
will be available for these andthey'll be determined by the
actual uh award sponsor.
Kentucky Dave (06:13):
Well, and that takes some of the some of the
heavy lifting off the judgingteams.
Mike (06:18):
Do they do they list their vendors on their website?
I did not get into it enough tofind the entire vendor list,
but they have capacity for,looks like about 140 tables.
Kentucky Dave (06:31):
Wow.
Mike (06:32):
And if this vendor table map is updated showing the
vacancies, there's got theyshows the ones that are
confirmed and paid, and they'vegot some yellow ones that are
pending payment, but there'sonly eight, looks like eight
tables left available at thetime of this, December 18th.
So maybe they're gone now.
I don't know.
Kentucky Dave (06:51):
That's amazing to have a local show with 140
vendor tables.
That's that's prettyimpressive.
So, Mike, do the does thewebsite indicate that there's
food on site or vendor foodvendors nearby?
Mike (07:08):
There's nothing on site, but uh there's a lot that's
really close.
Gotcha.
That ought to be covered.
So they ought to be doing goodthere.
Again, encourage folks to checkout the website and and get to
this show if you can.
It just looks like a phenomenalevent, Dave, for the first
first Saturday in January.
January, yeah.
Yeah.
(07:29):
So and it's there's also agallery of past shows and some
history about the about modelfiesta, and they s they give a
little bit on the website.
It's it's the longest runningannual modeling event in Region
6, and uh just continues togrow, and they they look like
they average about 500contestant entries every year.
So uh looks to be a good one.
Kentucky Dave (07:50):
So why don't you give me the date and time one
more time?
Mike (07:53):
Uh it's gonna be the 3rd of January, 2026, at the New
Bromfels Civic Convention Centerin New Bromfels, Texas.
Again, that's January 3rd, andthe website is uh
modelfiesta.com.
Pretty easy, and we'll get thatin the show notes so folks can
check it out.
Well, if you can't make ModelFiesta, Dave, you can wait a few
(08:17):
weeks and then uh head up toCollege Station to uh Winter
Blitz 2026.
Kentucky Dave (08:22):
Well, I'll tell you what, man, Texas is
obviously the place to be inJanuary.
Mike (08:27):
Well, we got a good buddy Brandon ready to tell us all
about Winter Blitz this year, solet's get into that one.
Dave, there is a lot going onin Texas in January.
I know, I know.
And toward the end of themonth, we've got a show that
we've been featuring, I think,since its inception.
(08:48):
That would be Winter Blitz, andas usual, annually, we've got
Special Agent 003 back onceagain, Mr.
Brandon Jacob, to pitch thisshow, and we're glad to support
you again.
Brandon, how are you doing?
Brandon Jacob (09:01):
Agent 003
How are you doing?
We're we are enjoying thewinter solstice here in Texas.
We're a little colder than we'dlike to be.
We're a little bit warmer thanwe would like to be.
Mike (09:14):
We were pretty pretty seasonable today.
Yeah, it wasn't bad.
Not bad.
Well, we hear you're back formore with winter blitz, man.
Brandon Jacob (09:24):
Agent 003
fifth annual this year?
Mike (09:28):
That's hard to believe.
It's hard to believe.
It's going to be really ourseventh year of starting, the
beginning of our seventh yearduring this pot doing this
podcast.
Kentucky Dave (09:36):
So I which I also can't believe.
Mike (09:39):
I believe it because it's happening to us too.
But uh your thing's beengrowing, but we'll get to the
details in a little bit.
Give us the ups and downs andins and outs about when and
where and all that.
Brandon Jacob (09:48):
Agent 003
Let me uh let me go with thehigh high level fifth annual
winter blitz.
It's gonna be held at theMuseum of the American GI, same
museum in College Station,Texas, and that's gonna be
Saturday, January 24th, 2026.
Oh man.
So just about a month from now.
Just about a month.
(10:10):
We here in Texas, we've we'vewe've we get to enjoy two great
shows.
We're gonna be in AlamosSquadron on the third, and and
then uh the the 24th, we'll beat Winterblitz.
So it's it's pretty exciting.
Kentucky Dave (10:22):
There are not many places in the country that
have two shows in January, man.
Brandon Jacob (10:29):
Agent 003
Kentucky Dave (10:31):
Yeah.
Mike (10:32):
We are the place.
Well, if folks are new to this,give them a little bit of
background about the place andwhy it's so cool to have a model
show there.
Brandon Jacob (10:41):
Agent 003
a special place.
It's a it's a growing museumthat is not gigantic but packs a
gigantic punch.
They have meticulously restoredall types of fighting vehicles:
Sherman's M5s, a Hellcat, HalfTracks, FT17, and they all run.
(11:04):
That's what's so cool about it.
The museum hosts events twice ayear where they actually take
these tanks out.
We haven't been able toconvince them to take them out
on Winter Blitz, but these arethese are meticulously restored
vehicles and are other artifactsin the museum.
A perfect backdrop for WinterBlitz being that Winter Blitz is
(11:30):
a 98% all armor scale modelcontest.
Mike (11:35):
Well, that does sound like a good place to have it then.
Brandon Jacob (11:38):
Agent 003
Yeah, I mean, I mean, who whohow how cool is it that you know
there's a there's a you know anM113 and and and next to it is
a table full of you know scaleM113s or Sherman's or whatever.
It's really uh really it it itsets it sets a pretty good vibe
and a pretty good buzz for theday.
(11:59):
Well, when do the doors openand when does registration
close?
Okay, so we we open at nineo'clock.
And Dave, we we are we aregoing to do a soft opener this
year, meaning if you come atfour o'clock on Friday, we would
be happy to get your models onthe table and get you all ready.
(12:20):
Absolutely.
And we also do pre-registrationonline on the website.
But Saturday morning the 24th,registration starts at nine, and
we like to start closing itdown at 11.
We're not gonna turn anybodyaway if someone's running late,
but we do get judging no laterthan noon, and of course, that's
(12:41):
when it's officially shut down.
Gotcha.
Mike (12:44):
And remind us again the judging format at this show.
What are you guys doing there?
I can't remember.
Brandon Jacob (12:49):
Agent 003
are proud to be doing one, two,three.
That format, uh first, second,third, uh, that format of
judging fits perfectly with thejudges that we have here in
Texas and with the the shortnessof the event, right?
Right.
Part of the part of the goalwhen when Rick Cotton and I set
(13:13):
out to launch Winter Blitz was awinter kind of Texas grudge
match in College Station at themuseum, which means not a lot of
people live in College Stationwho attend this show, right?
And we like to wrap it up nolater than about four so people
could get heading home whereverAustin or Dallas or San Antonio
(13:35):
or Houston.
And the and the first, second,and third just has worked well
for us.
We put the medals on the tableas we judge, and at our award
ceremony, which we have alively, fun award ceremony where
the emphasis is on the thisyear, it'll be 16 best of
(13:57):
categories.
And that's pretty much all thepeople, all the names we call is
this is the 16 best categories.
Mike (14:06):
Certainly makes things go faster.
Kentucky Dave (14:08):
Yes, that's that almost every modeler I know
prefers that type of awardceremony.
Brandon Jacob (14:14):
Agent 003
I I just don't get it.
I I don't, I don't, we wouldnever do it.
We did it one year actually,and it's just horrible.
Yeah, it's just it's absolutelyhorrible.
And what it does by not doingthat is we've had people say
they really like when modelersleave their models on the table
(14:38):
and they could see who won,right?
Because the gold, gold, silver,and bronze medallion, uh,
first, second, and thirdmedallion is is next to the
model.
And then it also enables us toextend the award ceremony by
giving credit to not only thebuilders who received the best
(14:59):
of awards, but also to thesponsors, right?
Like, like it's it's more thanjust simply, hey gee, thanks,
Lionheart.
Let's move on, you know, to thenext one.
It's it's we really want tomake sure people hear that
Lionheart Hobby has sponsoredthis award.
Kentucky Dave (15:16):
That's a good point.
Brandon Jacob (15:17):
Agent 003
of your awards?
We uh we are looking prettygood.
Yeah, we uh we um are arepretty excited to say that
things have lined up prettygood.
Everybody's listed on thewebsite looking for one or two
more table categories, but asfar as the best of categories,
absolutely we are uh secured.
Mike (15:40):
Great.
Well, what is that website?
Brandon Jacob (15:42):
Agent 003
winterhyphenblitz.com.
Mike (15:46):
All right, we'll get that in the show notes.
Brandon Jacob (15:48):
Agent 003
this year, a little somethingdifferent.
Is I figured out how to do likea little blog entry.
And every time there's like aoh yeah, I need to remind
someone, I do a blog entry onthe website.
So if someone goes there,there's a lot of information.
The website is building.
We have we have the winnersfrom past years, the statistics
(16:10):
from past years.
It's really what what we'retrying to do is make it more
than just a, hey, this is wherethe show is.
Of course, that information isthere as well.
But definitely try to make thewebsite a little bit more
interactive, if you will.
Kentucky Dave (16:24):
Did you say you can actually pre-register on the
website?
Brandon Jacob (16:28):
Agent 003
the website, and somebody couldjust fill in the form and email
me.
My email's on the website, andwe just we pay through PayPal
and and they're good to go.
Kentucky Dave (16:40):
Oh, that's great.
Brandon Jacob (16:41):
Agent 003
I mean, it really makes sense,right?
It's it's it's a it's a greatway to go.
Kentucky Dave (16:48):
All right.
Mike (16:48):
Well, we've covered all the blocking and tackling, all
the basics, and the foundationhere.
And you know, there's a lot ofthings about this show that are
consistent every year.
And one of them is you you havea theme typically, and what's
it gonna be this year, Brandon?
Brandon Jacob (17:00):
Agent 003
has been like Battle of theBulge or Vietnam, right?
Like like a time frame.
This year we did somethingdifferent.
We're we went with supportvehicles, military support
vehicles, which we're reallyexcited about and have had a lot
of people say, Well, that'spretty cool because you know the
(17:20):
somebody who's gonna win it isis not your it's probably not
gonna have tracks.
Mike (17:25):
Yeah.
Brandon Jacob (17:26):
Agent 003
exciting.
Mike (17:29):
So basically, any vehicle that's not a point of the spear
kind of thing, not a combatvehicle.
Brandon Jacob (17:34):
Agent 003
We've already addressed thequestion of if a deuce and a
half has a 50 cal on it.
Well, that's a defense 50 cal,and that's certainly not a
combat vehicle or a quoteunquote combat vehicle.
That's a a support vehicle,right?
So if it's there to support thetroops, so you know where that
where that cuts thinkambulances, think deuce and a
(17:55):
half, think cubal wagons, jeeps,motorcycles, like recovery
vehicles and uh absolutely or atractor or a bulldogs.
Yes, yes.
Mike (18:07):
Well, well, that should be an interesting one.
Brandon Jacob (18:09):
Agent 003
that often, right?
Mike (18:11):
No, you don't.
We see them built, but not notfor a theme.
Kentucky Dave (18:14):
Now, how many models do you all typically have
on the table at past shows?
Brandon Jacob (18:20):
Agent 003
average about 350.
Last year we were here's acrazy stat is we were actually
up in number of people entering.
We had 70.
Now, granted, there's a lotmore people at the museum,
right?
But we had 70 contestants,which was up 10% from the prior
(18:43):
year, but oddly enough, ourmodel count last year was down.
320.
We were at 320 last year, andit was and we can't, you know,
there's a the end of COVID.
Yeah, now we're not a new.
Kentucky Dave (18:57):
I think that's a big part of it is people didn't
have the backlog of completedmodels that they have in years
past.
Brandon Jacob (19:05):
Agent 003
anticipating that to swing theother way because of the new
categories that we added.
Plus, attending Eric Choi's ampshow in Austin in October, he
was way up.
I mean, he had the biggest yearhe's ever had, and it was like
like 80 more models than I can'tremember the exact numbers, but
(19:27):
so there's a lot of completedmodels floating around Texas
right now, armor models.
That's good news.
It is.
So we're we're reallyenthusiastic.
And and you know, it was okaybeing slightly I'd rather see
more contestants than you know,having fewer contestants.
But you know, we absolutelywould would like to see that
(19:49):
number bounce back to the thethe the 350 to the three to the
even a four hundreds that wethat we have had in the past.
We've never had four hundred,but we've had come close to it.
Mike (19:59):
Well, I No, you also have a tank of the year thing you do.
Tell us about that and what isit going to be this year if you
still got it?
Brandon Jacob (20:06):
Agent 003
The tank of the year is abrainchild of Rick Cotton and I.
And we just thought, how whatcan we do to every year?
Like, you know, there's atheme, right?
And the theme is again supportvehicles, but what about
something else special?
Well, it's an armor show.
Why don't we acknowledge andfor lack of better terms,
(20:28):
celebrate a vehicle?
And what we took, what we do iswe go down to the Houston Armor
Club in Houston and we have theguys vote.
And this year we came up with apretty exciting one, the 38T.
Mike (20:42):
And is it just a tank or any derivative of it?
Brandon Jacob (20:45):
Agent 003
Okay.
And that's exactly why wepicked it.
Because that one's a broad, youknow, that could Hetzers,
Martyrs, just your normal 38T.
And you know, if anybody'slistening, how it works is it
doesn't matter where your 38T oryour 38T variant is entered,
(21:07):
could be a 172nd scale Hetzer ora 116 scale 38T.
We pick the very best 38T inthe room for the day.
Mike (21:17):
Well, you alluded to the soft opening earlier, but
there's a little more to that.
So it's uh a little bit morethan just a one-day show for if
people do want to arrive earlythis time.
Why don't you tell us what'sgoing on, other than just
getting your models put on thetable on Friday?
Brandon Jacob (21:31):
Agen
I and it's important everybodyhears this.
Is in the past we've kind of,hey, we're going to dinner over
here, and some people heard andsome people didn't.
One of the goals for this yearis I wanted to have a
designated.
We're all going after after themuseum boots this out on Friday
night, we're all going todinner here.
And this year it's going to beTad's Louisiana Cooking, which
(21:53):
is just right up the street fromthe museum.
I could give you the address ofputting in the show notes, 1161
William Fitch Parkway.
It's going to be on the websiteas well, but everybody's
welcome to come.
We we actually went up thereand established a private room.
So we're going to have a littlebit of privacy.
(22:14):
You know, the winter blitzgroup, we'll have a nice little,
nice little room.
And I think we might even throwin a few door prizes on Friday
night as well.
Kentucky Dave (22:21):
Well, that sounds good.
Brandon Jacob (22:22):
Agent 003
Absolutely.
And it's good.
Everybody's gonna, I mean, it'sTexas is Cajun, but you know,
we we enjoy cage.
Kentucky Dave (22:32):
We enjoy Cajun.
I've never had a bad, bad Cajunmeal, man.
I would agree with you on that.
Brandon Jacob (22:38):
Agent 003
room that won won the uh won theday for Tad's Louisiana
cooking, but we should, weshould, we should have fun
there.
Mike (22:47):
What's gonna be new for winter blitz in in 2026?
You're always expanding.
This thing's really gettingsome traction now, and I know
you've done something new.
Brandon Jacob (22:55):
Agent 003
You know, we we stepped backlast year and we said what we
want to do is continue tosupport and encourage
participation in the hobby.
And at the same token, we wantto recognize guys, we have some
damn good modelers, right?
I mean, we we've had some ofthe best in in in Texas and the
(23:19):
country come through WinterBlitz, but what we what we
decided to do was establish theWinter Blitz Hall of Fame.
And the Winter Blitz Hall ofFame essentially is a club, if
you will, that if you havepreviously won Best of Shell at
Winter Blitz, if you come tothis year's Winter Blitz, we
(23:42):
will induct you into the Hall ofFame.
And we wanted to do that to aput recognition out to these,
these, these handful of peoplehave won the best of, and also
put them in a category thateventually they could compete in
and kind of clear the deck forup-and-comers.
Mike (24:03):
Kind of like Amps does.
Brandon Jacob (24:05):
Agent 003
But we want to be different,and we called it the Hall of
Fame.
But these guys are competitive,so we couldn't just simply say,
hey, congratulations.
You're in the hall of fame, andnow you can't compete.
So so what we've we've offeredis you could compete with
everybody else for the theme,the support vehicles.
(24:28):
And we encourage and we willhave the inductees bring the
their builds that won best ofand put those on display.
Mike (24:38):
Yeah, that's a good idea.
Hopefully can all make it andcan bring those entries with
them.
Brandon Jacob (24:43):
Agent 003
uh these entries deserve to beseen again, right?
Yeah, absolutely deserve to beseen again.
And and we built or had made, Ishould say, plaques that are
pretty amazing.
It it actually shows the buildand the and the inductees' name
and the year that they won bestof show, and we're gonna call
(25:05):
them up in the award ceremonyand make a big deal about that.
Mike (25:09):
I'm sure they'll be well received.
Brandon Jacob (25:11):
Agent 003
Yep.
We also we kind of go back andforth, you know, it's an armor
show.
Man, we want more people,right?
And and you know, we just we goback and forth.
I mean, and I said it with asmile on my face, but like, you
know, hey, we would love to openmore categories, but pendulum
kind of, you know, one year wewere almost out of room.
(25:33):
Last year we had a littleexcess room because the museum's
Antos was being repaired, sothe museum had one a little more
space for us, but we never knowif the place is gonna be full
of tanks or not, right?
So we have to be careful withcategories, but we expanded into
(25:53):
some unique categories thisyear that's gonna let some
people bring a model that maynot have been eligible.
And if you don't mind, I'llI'll list those off real quick
with the new categories.
Okay.
You know, we decided there's aPBR uh boat in the museum.
Why not have brownwater navy?
Makes sense.
Yep.
And and so now a boat somebodywho's built a boat could bring
(26:15):
something from the brownwaternavy, Vietnam Brownwater Navy,
landing craft, which is abizarre, unique category, but
fun if you think about it.
And that's going to be broad,right?
If it if it brings men orequipment onto a beach, that's
landing craft.
And it'll be exciting to see ifwe get one or if we get 20
(26:37):
entrers.
We we don't know.
It's a little bit of a littlebit of a guess.
Helicopters, tank busters.
I just that's an amps thing,but I candidly was tired of
people saying, why don't you dotank busters, helicopters?
So we're doing it.
Kentucky Dave (26:51):
I'd make the argument helicopters are flying
armor.
Brandon Jacob (26:55):
Agent 003
that's how amps looks at it,right?
And then and and they do thetank busters, but so we, you
know, last year we did Vietnamhelicopters because our theme
was Vietnam.
This year it's moving to juststraight up helicopters.
It could be a modern well, I Imean, I'm not a I'm not a
helicopter guy, but help me out.
What it could be any realmodern tank buster helicopter.
Kentucky Dave (27:18):
Right.
Anything from an Apache back toa Huey or a H13 from Korea.
Yep.
Brandon Jacob (27:25):
Agent 003
is the P47 challenge.
And what this does is give ourairplane builder friends a
category.
And that was wide open.
P47, it's a P47.
I don't care if it's 172nd,132nd, or 132nd, doesn't matter
(27:46):
what scale.
A P47, it's a cool airplane.
Let's face it, it's a flyingtank, too.
Um why not have that?
So that's exciting.
And then finally, the machineand Kruger.
We were gonna open up acategory and let the folks who
are enjoying that line ofmodeling participate in winter
(28:08):
blitz.
Mike (28:08):
That's a good way to get more people with those extra
categories, I think.
I'm looking forward to seeingwhat you get at them.
Brandon Jacob (28:14):
Agent 003
It's gonna be interesting tosee how how many models wind up
in these new categories.
It's gonna be very exciting.
Mike (28:21):
And I guess with your space uncertainties there, you
gotta be careful what you wishfor.
Brandon Jacob (28:24):
Agent 003
this.
It's a successful show whenwhen when Rick Cotton and I are
running around trying to figureout how to find another table to
put more to put more models.
Kentucky Dave (28:37):
Been there, done that, man.
Brandon Jacob (28:38):
Agent 003
Yeah.
We also we also expanded whenwe do one when I refer to it as
the best of categories, uh, thecategories that we call people
up at the award ceremony.
We didn't, we realized weweren't giving enough credit, if
you will, to dioramas andvignettes.
So we we're we're we started abest diorama or vignette or
(29:02):
scenery, if you will, category.
So we're gonna recognizesomeone there.
And then figures.
We've had such good figures.
And in the past, you know, it'sjust one of those, and it's an
armor show, but we also havefigures.
Well, by God, we're gonna we'regonna recognize the the uh the
the painter, the builder who whobrings the best figure as well.
Mike (29:22):
You're gonna have your hands full, man.
Yep.
We train for this.
Kentucky Dave (29:25):
That's good.
That's good.
Well, I expect that you weregonna take a lot of pictures and
post them on the dojo when theshow happens, and we look
forward to seeing your successbecause I have no doubt it's
gonna be a successful show.
Brandon Jacob (29:41):
Agen
We'll uh we'll be taking abunch of pictures and hopefully
it's as it's gonna be assuccessful as it's been in the
past.
Mike (29:48):
Well, we talked a little bit about it briefly before we
started recording, but youwanted to expand on the any
weather concerns?
Brandon Jacob (29:56):
Agent 003
smile on my face, but I want tosay this to all my all my
friends in Louisiana and Texasand and wherever else you're
coming from.
Winter blitz will go, willhappen, cold rain or snow.
It doesn't matter, it's gonnahappen.
As I speak, I was in my garagetoday in shorts and a and a and
a and a t-shirt.
(30:17):
I mean, it's it's sounseasonably warm here this
year, but we know January canget ugly in Texas.
And what that what happens isTexans become, oh shit, it's
cold.
And will the show go on?
Yes, it will go on.
You might have to find yourjacket, you might have to find
your hat, and it might be wet,and it might be cloudy, and it
(30:39):
might not be sunny.
Like, I guess my point is wedon't want people second
guessing.
Listen, if something horrifichappened like an ice storm, we'd
post on the website, but youknow, we're just not
rescheduling this thing.
If I'm not slipping off theroad, heading to college
station, then by God, winterblitz is happening.
Mike (30:59):
Sounds good.
Well, given your your spaceconstraints, what's the vendor
situation at uh winter blitz?
Brandon Jacob (31:05):
Agent 003
smaller but a powerful vendorroom uh in a kind of shout out.
We're we're lucky enough tohave through conjunction with
King's Hobby in Austin, there'sthere's there's sponsoring, if
you will.
Rick Lawler from AK is comingdown, and he's gonna do what he
was doing at Nationals inVirginia, where he's gonna be at
(31:26):
a table and not doing not atime presentation or a you know
a private class, butdemonstrations all day long.
So, hey, I I bought AKproducts.
Can I can Rick, could you showme how to use those?
Yes, I can.
We've got uh uh Mac McDougal ofa Dug Studio and Adam Coleman
of Ling Liang Products, they'reboth going to be in the vendor
(31:50):
room with their products, andthey both threatened to do
demonstrations as well.
We've got Mr.
Jim Root of Black Widow ModelDisposal, my good friend Jim.
He's threatened to come downand sell some some of his stuff
again.
And then finally, the the thefriendliest man in in scale
modeling, Mr.
Steve Monsella, value gear, isis dying to come back to Texas
(32:13):
and he's gonna be in the vendorroom.
So, you know, it's just a goodmix of of products and people
showing how to use products andhard to find products, and and
of course, your handful of uh uhcollection people as well.
So we're we're really excitedabout the vendor room this year.
Mike (32:32):
Well, man, it all sounds great.
And come into January, Dave andI both may wish we were in
Texas instead of Kentucky.
Brandon Jacob (32:38):
Agent 003
Southwest Airlines.
Mike (32:43):
Well, you know, that's not you're right about that.
It could if you decide if youdecide to go on a Thursday, you
could probably get a cheapflight down there if there's a
seat open.
Well, I don't need a cheapflight.
No, you don't, but I would.
Brandon Jacob (32:57):
Agent 003
guys down here at some point intime.
We would absolutely love it.
Mike (33:03):
Sounds awesome, man.
It's not like a museum, I'dlike to see whether the show was
there or not, but that wouldjust be the icing on the cake.
So uh yeah.
Kentucky Dave (33:09):
Hey Brandon, I'm playing that lottery hard.
If I hit the big one, you cancount on me showing up.
Brandon Jacob (33:15):
Agent 003
you could maybe pass on the next170 second scale to Maya Zero
and buy a ticket down here.
I hear you.
Mike (33:26):
Well, Brandon, before we go, give us one more time, the
date and time and place and youryour website information again,
so folks can uh plan on coming.
Brandon Jacob (33:35):
Agen
Winter Blitz, fifth annual,January 24th, 2026.
Held at the Museum of theAmerican GI in College Station,
Texas.
Instructions to the museum areon the website.
The website iswinter-blitz.com.
It's important to remember thehyphen, right?
Winterhyphenblitz.com.
(33:56):
Feel free to ask questions offthe website.
I I'd love, I love knowingpeople are fired up for the
show.
If you have questions, if youwant to pre-register, just go to
the website, drop me an email,and we'll we'll get you taken
care of.
And and again, soft opener, youknow, we're gonna open the
doors four o'clock on Friday.
But again, there's just notgonna be much other than just
(34:17):
registering your models, andthen we're all gonna go down to
Tad's Louisiana cooking and havea have a big dinner and then
kick it off at nine o'clock inthe morning that uh following
day.
Mike (34:28):
All right.
Well, Brandon, we sound off.
We're glad to support you onemore time and uh wish you all
the success, man.
Brandon Jacob (34:34):
Agent 003
letting me come on here andyammer on.
Kentucky Dave (34:38):
Not a problem.
Mike (34:43):
They're doing it Texas style.
Everything's bigger in Texas,even model show January.
Kentucky Dave (34:49):
That's exactly what I was thinking.
Well, that and and winter blitzjust seems to continue to grow
and evolve, and it's really kindof cool to see that from being
there when they were promotingtheir first show to now seeing
what it's grown to is reallykind of awesome.
Mike (35:10):
It is.
So, folks, if you got time toget out and you're ready to get
out by the uh 3rd of January andyou're in the New Bromfels uh
San Antonio area down there inTexas, check out Model Fiesta,
and then cruise over to CollegeStation at the end of the month
and pick up another great modelshow that continues to get
(35:32):
better.
So that's January, Dave, inTexas.
Yep.
Hope we survive the holidays.
I hope so too.
Well, Dave, we took a short break from this sort of
thing over the last month, butuh stuff's picking back up in
January for sure.
At least in Texas it is.
Kentucky Dave (00:24):
Yeah.
Mike (00:25):
You know, with the holidays and all, we kind of get
into some time compression andand schedule stuff just comes
over the horizon really quick.
And I I really wish I couldhave got this first show a
representative from the Alamochapter to uh come pitch the
show, but uh I put out a feelerand I I guess it was just too
late.
So first off, I want toapologize to those guys for for
not getting one of them gettingone of their representatives on
(00:46):
the show, but you and I are justgonna do it because uh it's
worth pitching.
I don't think we've everpitched this show in January, if
I'm if I recall.
Kentucky Dave (00:56):
Yeah, I don't think we have.
Mike (00:57):
It's just worth doing because it looks like it's a
really a really fabulous event,Dave.
Kentucky Dave (01:02):
Well, and not only that, but I mean shows in
January are are fewer and farbetween.
And so when they're whenthere's something going on, I I
want to promote it.
Mike (01:14):
All right.
Well, let's see what we can dofor Model Fiesta.
All right.
Well, Model Fiesta is againhosted by the uh Alamo chapter
of the IPMS, and it is January3rd, so barely in January.
Wow.
January 3rd, 2026.
That'll be the first Saturdayin January, which is just barely
12 days away, man.
I know.
(01:35):
Uh, it's gonna be held, Dave,at the New Bromfels Civic
Convention Center in NewBromfels, Texas.
And again, that's on January3rd.
So when does the show open?
Well, they've got vendor set upbeginning at 6 a.m.
on that Saturday through 9 a.m.
So if you're gonna vent there,you better be ready to rock and
roll, man.
(01:56):
Doors open for the contestants,Dave, at 9 a.m.
and show should run to about 5p.m.
Did they say when registrationcuts off?
Model registration live is 9a.m.
to 11 30 a.m.
that morning.
And uh it gets to a good point.
You can do a lot of stuffonline, man.
Their website, by the way, Idon't want to forget to mention
(02:19):
it, is absolutely fantastic.
I don't know who did this forthe club.
They've done a bang up job, andall this is on here, including
registration.
You can pay online, you can getboth the model registration
summary form, which lists allyour entries, and I'll elaborate
on that in just a little bit,but also there's a downloadable
form for your individualentries.
(02:40):
Both these are in PDF and Wordformat.
You can get them right off thewebsite, and through a drop-down
and a cart system, you can payyour adult entry fee, your
junior, and there's also apreteen for uh modelers not
quite teenagers yet, and there'sa general admission.
You can pay all that in advanceon the website.
Kentucky Dave (02:58):
That's nice.
That's it's nice when, andthere's you're seeing more and
more shows go to this where theyare adding more and more to
their websites to both make iteasier for the modeler who's
going to attend to get all thelogistics paperwork out of the
(03:19):
way.
And it makes it easier for theclub because they don't have two
guys sitting at a table and aline of 20 people standing there
holding their models.
Mike (03:30):
That's right.
Well, I encourage folks to takeadvantage of all this, and
we'll link the website in theshow notes.
And this is just really, reallycool.
I was really impressed when Iwent to their website to to do
this for them.
Kentucky Dave (03:42):
Um now are they a one-two-three system or a gold
silver bronze open system?
Mike (03:47):
They are a gold, silver, bronze open system.
Okay.
And all the rules for uh thecontest or the exp exhibition, I
guess you'd call this one, areonline.
All the categories you can finduh find that.
Even the scoring sheets thatwill be used for each category
are right there for you toperuse and see how it's gonna
shake out.
So uh all their scoring sheetsare there for all the all the
(04:11):
entry categories for the for theawarded for the awarded
categories.
Now, they've also got displayonly.
Oh, great.
They got tables for that, andan interesting twist for that
that they're doing, they say newthis year, is that the display
models are eligible for thespecial awards.
Kentucky Dave (04:29):
Oh, well that you know that kind of makes sense.
Mike (04:32):
Well, and the way they're doing this, based on the web
information, is the uh the thejudging freedom to do this is
because it's going to be done bythe the the award sponsors for
the special awards.
So in addition to the best inclass for the for the normal
things, there there's a uh whatit was the best of show, best
young modeler, best aerospace,best military vehicle, all
(04:53):
those, you know, for the for thestandard entry type categories,
the paid entrance, non, thenon-displays, the actual con
contestants.
Uh but the special awards,there's a theme award, and
theme's the Cold War this year.
It's the 50th anniversary ofthe Cold War from 1946 to 1991.
So there's a theme award forthe Cold War, and their graphic
(05:14):
for this is just phenomenal.
It's just really great.
So we'll put that in the teasergraphic.
Kentucky Dave (05:19):
Okay.
Mike (05:20):
People's Choice Award, there's a Tomio Award.
Our friends over at theModelers Without Borders are
doing their Wow Factory Award.
So there'll be a representativefrom that that gang over there
to do that one.
There's a U.S.
Veterans Award, OutstandingFord Vehicle, Iron Resurrection
Award, which is for classic carrestorations and things like
that.
There's one for trucks, it's aKorean War subject, Jolly Green
(05:43):
Award for uh looks like uhhelicopters, rotary wing
aircraft, U.S.
Air Force Award, the MinutemanAward, airlifters.
It goes, there's a lot of them.
Yeah.
Uh Red Star Memorial Award forBest Uh Russian Soviet subject.
And there's just Out of ThisWorld Award for uh Best Space or
Sci-Fi or Real Space.
(06:03):
So it's really, really coolthat the uh the uh display only
will be available for these andthey'll be determined by the
actual uh award sponsor.
Kentucky Dave (06:13):
Well, and that takes some of the some of the
heavy lifting off the judgingteams.
Mike (06:18):
Do they do they list their vendors on their website?
I did not get into it enough tofind the entire vendor list,
but they have capacity for,looks like about 140 tables.
Kentucky Dave (06:31):
Wow.
Mike (06:32):
And if this vendor table map is updated showing the
vacancies, there's got theyshows the ones that are
confirmed and paid, and they'vegot some yellow ones that are
pending payment, but there'sonly eight, looks like eight
tables left available at thetime of this, December 18th.
So maybe they're gone now.
I don't know.
Kentucky Dave (06:51):
That's amazing to have a local show with 140
vendor tables.
That's that's prettyimpressive.
So, Mike, do the does thewebsite indicate that there's
food on site or vendor foodvendors nearby?
Mike (07:08):
There's nothing on site, but uh there's a lot that's
really close.
Gotcha.
That ought to be covered.
So they ought to be doing goodthere.
Again, encourage folks to checkout the website and and get to
this show if you can.
It just looks like a phenomenalevent, Dave, for the first
first Saturday in January.
January, yeah.
Yeah.
(07:29):
So and it's there's also agallery of past shows and some
history about the about modelfiesta, and they s they give a
little bit on the website.
It's it's the longest runningannual modeling event in Region
6, and uh just continues togrow, and they they look like
they average about 500contestant entries every year.
So uh looks to be a good one.
Kentucky Dave (07:50):
So why don't you give me the date and time one
more time?
Mike (07:53):
Uh it's gonna be the 3rd of January, 2026, at the New
Bromfels Civic Convention Centerin New Bromfels, Texas.
Again, that's January 3rd, andthe website is uh
modelfiesta.com.
Pretty easy, and we'll get thatin the show notes so folks can
check it out.
Well, if you can't make ModelFiesta, Dave, you can wait a few
(08:17):
weeks and then uh head up toCollege Station to uh Winter
Blitz 2026.
Kentucky Dave (08:22):
Well, I'll tell you what, man, Texas is
obviously the place to be inJanuary.
Mike (08:27):
Well, we got a good buddy Brandon ready to tell us all
about Winter Blitz this year, solet's get into that one.
Dave, there is a lot going onin Texas in January.
I know, I know.
And toward the end of themonth, we've got a show that
we've been featuring, I think,since its inception.
(08:48):
That would be Winter Blitz, andas usual, annually, we've got
Special Agent 003 back onceagain, Mr.
Brandon Jacob, to pitch thisshow, and we're glad to support
you again.
Brandon, how are you doing?
Brandon Jacob (09:01):
Agent 003
How are you doing?
We're we are enjoying thewinter solstice here in Texas.
We're a little colder than we'dlike to be.
We're a little bit warmer thanwe would like to be.
Mike (09:14):
We were pretty pretty seasonable today.
Yeah, it wasn't bad.
Not bad.
Well, we hear you're back formore with winter blitz, man.
Brandon Jacob (09:24):
Agent 003
fifth annual this year?
Mike (09:28):
That's hard to believe.
It's hard to believe.
It's going to be really ourseventh year of starting, the
beginning of our seventh yearduring this pot doing this
podcast.
Kentucky Dave (09:36):
So I which I also can't believe.
Mike (09:39):
I believe it because it's happening to us too.
But uh your thing's beengrowing, but we'll get to the
details in a little bit.
Give us the ups and downs andins and outs about when and
where and all that.
Brandon Jacob (09:48):
Agent 003
Let me uh let me go with thehigh high level fifth annual
winter blitz.
It's gonna be held at theMuseum of the American GI, same
museum in College Station,Texas, and that's gonna be
Saturday, January 24th, 2026.
Oh man.
So just about a month from now.
Just about a month.
(10:10):
We here in Texas, we've we'vewe've we get to enjoy two great
shows.
We're gonna be in AlamosSquadron on the third, and and
then uh the the 24th, we'll beat Winterblitz.
So it's it's pretty exciting.
Kentucky Dave (10:22):
There are not many places in the country that
have two shows in January, man.
Brandon Jacob (10:29):
Agent 003
Kentucky Dave (10:31):
Yeah.
Mike (10:32):
We are the place.
Well, if folks are new to this,give them a little bit of
background about the place andwhy it's so cool to have a model
show there.
Brandon Jacob (10:41):
Agent 003
a special place.
It's a it's a growing museumthat is not gigantic but packs a
gigantic punch.
They have meticulously restoredall types of fighting vehicles:
Sherman's M5s, a Hellcat, HalfTracks, FT17, and they all run.
(11:04):
That's what's so cool about it.
The museum hosts events twice ayear where they actually take
these tanks out.
We haven't been able toconvince them to take them out
on Winter Blitz, but these arethese are meticulously restored
vehicles and are other artifactsin the museum.
A perfect backdrop for WinterBlitz being that Winter Blitz is
(11:30):
a 98% all armor scale modelcontest.
Mike (11:35):
Well, that does sound like a good place to have it then.
Brandon Jacob (11:38):
Agent 003
Yeah, I mean, I mean, who whohow how cool is it that you know
there's a there's a you know anM113 and and and next to it is
a table full of you know scaleM113s or Sherman's or whatever.
It's really uh really it it itsets it sets a pretty good vibe
and a pretty good buzz for theday.
(11:59):
Well, when do the doors openand when does registration
close?
Okay, so we we open at nineo'clock.
And Dave, we we are we aregoing to do a soft opener this
year, meaning if you come atfour o'clock on Friday, we would
be happy to get your models onthe table and get you all ready.
(12:20):
Absolutely.
And we also do pre-registrationonline on the website.
But Saturday morning the 24th,registration starts at nine, and
we like to start closing itdown at 11.
We're not gonna turn anybodyaway if someone's running late,
but we do get judging no laterthan noon, and of course, that's
(12:41):
when it's officially shut down.
Gotcha.
Mike (12:44):
And remind us again the judging format at this show.
What are you guys doing there?
I can't remember.
Brandon Jacob (12:49):
Agent 003
are proud to be doing one, two,three.
That format, uh first, second,third, uh, that format of
judging fits perfectly with thejudges that we have here in
Texas and with the the shortnessof the event, right?
Right.
Part of the part of the goalwhen when Rick Cotton and I set
(13:13):
out to launch Winter Blitz was awinter kind of Texas grudge
match in College Station at themuseum, which means not a lot of
people live in College Stationwho attend this show, right?
And we like to wrap it up nolater than about four so people
could get heading home whereverAustin or Dallas or San Antonio
(13:35):
or Houston.
And the and the first, second,and third just has worked well
for us.
We put the medals on the tableas we judge, and at our award
ceremony, which we have alively, fun award ceremony where
the emphasis is on the thisyear, it'll be 16 best of
(13:57):
categories.
And that's pretty much all thepeople, all the names we call is
this is the 16 best categories.
Mike (14:06):
Certainly makes things go faster.
Kentucky Dave (14:08):
Yes, that's that almost every modeler I know
prefers that type of awardceremony.
Brandon Jacob (14:14):
Agent 003
I I just don't get it.
I I don't, I don't, we wouldnever do it.
We did it one year actually,and it's just horrible.
Yeah, it's just it's absolutelyhorrible.
And what it does by not doingthat is we've had people say
they really like when modelersleave their models on the table
(14:38):
and they could see who won,right?
Because the gold, gold, silver,and bronze medallion, uh,
first, second, and thirdmedallion is is next to the
model.
And then it also enables us toextend the award ceremony by
giving credit to not only thebuilders who received the best
(14:59):
of awards, but also to thesponsors, right?
Like, like it's it's more thanjust simply, hey gee, thanks,
Lionheart.
Let's move on, you know, to thenext one.
It's it's we really want tomake sure people hear that
Lionheart Hobby has sponsoredthis award.
Kentucky Dave (15:16):
That's a good point.
Brandon Jacob (15:17):
Agent 003
of your awards?
We uh we are looking prettygood.
Yeah, we uh we um are arepretty excited to say that
things have lined up prettygood.
Everybody's listed on thewebsite looking for one or two
more table categories, but asfar as the best of categories,
absolutely we are uh secured.
Mike (15:40):
Great.
Well, what is that website?
Brandon Jacob (15:42):
Agent 003
winterhyphenblitz.com.
Mike (15:46):
All right, we'll get that in the show notes.
Brandon Jacob (15:48):
Agent 003
this year, a little somethingdifferent.
Is I figured out how to do likea little blog entry.
And every time there's like aoh yeah, I need to remind
someone, I do a blog entry onthe website.
So if someone goes there,there's a lot of information.
The website is building.
We have we have the winnersfrom past years, the statistics
(16:10):
from past years.
It's really what what we'retrying to do is make it more
than just a, hey, this is wherethe show is.
Of course, that information isthere as well.
But definitely try to make thewebsite a little bit more
interactive, if you will.
Kentucky Dave (16:24):
Did you say you can actually pre-register on the
website?
Brandon Jacob (16:28):
Agent 003
the website, and somebody couldjust fill in the form and email
me.
My email's on the website, andwe just we pay through PayPal
and and they're good to go.
Kentucky Dave (16:40):
Oh, that's great.
Brandon Jacob (16:41):
Agent 003
I mean, it really makes sense,right?
It's it's it's a it's a greatway to go.
Kentucky Dave (16:48):
All right.
Mike (16:48):
Well, we've covered all the blocking and tackling, all
the basics, and the foundationhere.
And you know, there's a lot ofthings about this show that are
consistent every year.
And one of them is you you havea theme typically, and what's
it gonna be this year, Brandon?
Brandon Jacob (17:00):
Agent 003
has been like Battle of theBulge or Vietnam, right?
Like like a time frame.
This year we did somethingdifferent.
We're we went with supportvehicles, military support
vehicles, which we're reallyexcited about and have had a lot
of people say, Well, that'spretty cool because you know the
(17:20):
somebody who's gonna win it isis not your it's probably not
gonna have tracks.
Mike (17:25):
Yeah.
Brandon Jacob (17:26):
Agent 003
exciting.
Mike (17:29):
So basically, any vehicle that's not a point of the spear
kind of thing, not a combatvehicle.
Brandon Jacob (17:34):
Agent 003
We've already addressed thequestion of if a deuce and a
half has a 50 cal on it.
Well, that's a defense 50 cal,and that's certainly not a
combat vehicle or a quoteunquote combat vehicle.
That's a a support vehicle,right?
So if it's there to support thetroops, so you know where that
where that cuts thinkambulances, think deuce and a
(17:55):
half, think cubal wagons, jeeps,motorcycles, like recovery
vehicles and uh absolutely or atractor or a bulldogs.
Yes, yes.
Mike (18:07):
Well, well, that should be an interesting one.
Brandon Jacob (18:09):
Agent 003
that often, right?
Mike (18:11):
No, you don't.
We see them built, but not notfor a theme.
Kentucky Dave (18:14):
Now, how many models do you all typically have
on the table at past shows?
Brandon Jacob (18:20):
Agent 003
average about 350.
Last year we were here's acrazy stat is we were actually
up in number of people entering.
We had 70.
Now, granted, there's a lotmore people at the museum,
right?
But we had 70 contestants,which was up 10% from the prior
(18:43):
year, but oddly enough, ourmodel count last year was down.
320.
We were at 320 last year, andit was and we can't, you know,
there's a the end of COVID.
Yeah, now we're not a new.
Kentucky Dave (18:57):
I think that's a big part of it is people didn't
have the backlog of completedmodels that they have in years
past.
Brandon Jacob (19:05):
Agent 003
anticipating that to swing theother way because of the new
categories that we added.
Plus, attending Eric Choi's ampshow in Austin in October, he
was way up.
I mean, he had the biggest yearhe's ever had, and it was like
like 80 more models than I can'tremember the exact numbers, but
(19:27):
so there's a lot of completedmodels floating around Texas
right now, armor models.
That's good news.
It is.
So we're we're reallyenthusiastic.
And and you know, it was okaybeing slightly I'd rather see
more contestants than you know,having fewer contestants.
But you know, we absolutelywould would like to see that
(19:49):
number bounce back to the thethe the 350 to the three to the
even a four hundreds that wethat we have had in the past.
We've never had four hundred,but we've had come close to it.
Mike (19:59):
Well, I No, you also have a tank of the year thing you do.
Tell us about that and what isit going to be this year if you
still got it?
Brandon Jacob (20:06):
Agent 003
The tank of the year is abrainchild of Rick Cotton and I.
And we just thought, how whatcan we do to every year?
Like, you know, there's atheme, right?
And the theme is again supportvehicles, but what about
something else special?
Well, it's an armor show.
Why don't we acknowledge andfor lack of better terms,
(20:28):
celebrate a vehicle?
And what we took, what we do iswe go down to the Houston Armor
Club in Houston and we have theguys vote.
And this year we came up with apretty exciting one, the 38T.
Mike (20:42):
And is it just a tank or any derivative of it?
Brandon Jacob (20:45):
Agent 003
Okay.
And that's exactly why wepicked it.
Because that one's a broad, youknow, that could Hetzers,
Martyrs, just your normal 38T.
And you know, if anybody'slistening, how it works is it
doesn't matter where your 38T oryour 38T variant is entered,
(21:07):
could be a 172nd scale Hetzer ora 116 scale 38T.
We pick the very best 38T inthe room for the day.
Mike (21:17):
Well, you alluded to the soft opening earlier, but
there's a little more to that.
So it's uh a little bit morethan just a one-day show for if
people do want to arrive earlythis time.
Why don't you tell us what'sgoing on, other than just
getting your models put on thetable on Friday?
Brandon Jacob (21:31):
Agen
I and it's important everybodyhears this.
Is in the past we've kind of,hey, we're going to dinner over
here, and some people heard andsome people didn't.
One of the goals for this yearis I wanted to have a
designated.
We're all going after after themuseum boots this out on Friday
night, we're all going todinner here.
And this year it's going to beTad's Louisiana Cooking, which
(21:53):
is just right up the street fromthe museum.
I could give you the address ofputting in the show notes, 1161
William Fitch Parkway.
It's going to be on the websiteas well, but everybody's
welcome to come.
We we actually went up thereand established a private room.
So we're going to have a littlebit of privacy.
(22:14):
You know, the winter blitzgroup, we'll have a nice little,
nice little room.
And I think we might even throwin a few door prizes on Friday
night as well.
Kentucky Dave (22:21):
Well, that sounds good.
Brandon Jacob (22:22):
Agent 003
Absolutely.
And it's good.
Everybody's gonna, I mean, it'sTexas is Cajun, but you know,
we we enjoy cage.
Kentucky Dave (22:32):
We enjoy Cajun.
I've never had a bad, bad Cajunmeal, man.
I would agree with you on that.
Brandon Jacob (22:38):
Agent 003
room that won won the uh won theday for Tad's Louisiana
cooking, but we should, weshould, we should have fun
there.
Mike (22:47):
What's gonna be new for winter blitz in in 2026?
You're always expanding.
This thing's really gettingsome traction now, and I know
you've done something new.
Brandon Jacob (22:55):
Agent 003
You know, we we stepped backlast year and we said what we
want to do is continue tosupport and encourage
participation in the hobby.
And at the same token, we wantto recognize guys, we have some
damn good modelers, right?
I mean, we we've had some ofthe best in in in Texas and the
(23:19):
country come through WinterBlitz, but what we what we
decided to do was establish theWinter Blitz Hall of Fame.
And the Winter Blitz Hall ofFame essentially is a club, if
you will, that if you havepreviously won Best of Shell at
Winter Blitz, if you come tothis year's Winter Blitz, we
(23:42):
will induct you into the Hall ofFame.
And we wanted to do that to aput recognition out to these,
these, these handful of peoplehave won the best of, and also
put them in a category thateventually they could compete in
and kind of clear the deck forup-and-comers.
Mike (24:03):
Kind of like Amps does.
Brandon Jacob (24:05):
Agent 003
But we want to be different,and we called it the Hall of
Fame.
But these guys are competitive,so we couldn't just simply say,
hey, congratulations.
You're in the hall of fame, andnow you can't compete.
So so what we've we've offeredis you could compete with
everybody else for the theme,the support vehicles.
(24:28):
And we encourage and we willhave the inductees bring the
their builds that won best ofand put those on display.
Mike (24:38):
Yeah, that's a good idea.
Hopefully can all make it andcan bring those entries with
them.
Brandon Jacob (24:43):
Agent 003
uh these entries deserve to beseen again, right?
Yeah, absolutely deserve to beseen again.
And and we built or had made, Ishould say, plaques that are
pretty amazing.
It it actually shows the buildand the and the inductees' name
and the year that they won bestof show, and we're gonna call
(25:05):
them up in the award ceremonyand make a big deal about that.
Mike (25:09):
I'm sure they'll be well received.
Brandon Jacob (25:11):
Agent 003
Yep.
We also we kind of go back andforth, you know, it's an armor
show.
Man, we want more people,right?
And and you know, we just we goback and forth.
I mean, and I said it with asmile on my face, but like, you
know, hey, we would love to openmore categories, but pendulum
kind of, you know, one year wewere almost out of room.
(25:33):
Last year we had a littleexcess room because the museum's
Antos was being repaired, sothe museum had one a little more
space for us, but we never knowif the place is gonna be full
of tanks or not, right?
So we have to be careful withcategories, but we expanded into
(25:53):
some unique categories thisyear that's gonna let some
people bring a model that maynot have been eligible.
And if you don't mind, I'llI'll list those off real quick
with the new categories.
Okay.
You know, we decided there's aPBR uh boat in the museum.
Why not have brownwater navy?
Makes sense.
Yep.
And and so now a boat somebodywho's built a boat could bring
(26:15):
something from the brownwaternavy, Vietnam Brownwater Navy,
landing craft, which is abizarre, unique category, but
fun if you think about it.
And that's going to be broad,right?
If it if it brings men orequipment onto a beach, that's
landing craft.
And it'll be exciting to see ifwe get one or if we get 20
(26:37):
entrers.
We we don't know.
It's a little bit of a littlebit of a guess.
Helicopters, tank busters.
I just that's an amps thing,but I candidly was tired of
people saying, why don't you dotank busters, helicopters?
So we're doing it.
Kentucky Dave (26:51):
I'd make the argument helicopters are flying
armor.
Brandon Jacob (26:55):
Agent 003
that's how amps looks at it,right?
And then and and they do thetank busters, but so we, you
know, last year we did Vietnamhelicopters because our theme
was Vietnam.
This year it's moving to juststraight up helicopters.
It could be a modern well, I Imean, I'm not a I'm not a
helicopter guy, but help me out.
What it could be any realmodern tank buster helicopter.
Kentucky Dave (27:18):
Right.
Anything from an Apache back toa Huey or a H13 from Korea.
Yep.
Brandon Jacob (27:25):
Agent 003
is the P47 challenge.
And what this does is give ourairplane builder friends a
category.
And that was wide open.
P47, it's a P47.
I don't care if it's 172nd,132nd, or 132nd, doesn't matter
(27:46):
what scale.
A P47, it's a cool airplane.
Let's face it, it's a flyingtank, too.
Um why not have that?
So that's exciting.
And then finally, the machineand Kruger.
We were gonna open up acategory and let the folks who
are enjoying that line ofmodeling participate in winter
(28:08):
blitz.
Mike (28:08):
That's a good way to get more people with those extra
categories, I think.
I'm looking forward to seeingwhat you get at them.
Brandon Jacob (28:14):
Agent 003
It's gonna be interesting tosee how how many models wind up
in these new categories.
It's gonna be very exciting.
Mike (28:21):
And I guess with your space uncertainties there, you
gotta be careful what you wishfor.
Brandon Jacob (28:24):
Agent 003
this.
It's a successful show whenwhen when Rick Cotton and I are
running around trying to figureout how to find another table to
put more to put more models.
Kentucky Dave (28:37):
Been there, done that, man.
Brandon Jacob (28:38):
Agent 003
Yeah.
We also we also expanded whenwe do one when I refer to it as
the best of categories, uh, thecategories that we call people
up at the award ceremony.
We didn't, we realized weweren't giving enough credit, if
you will, to dioramas andvignettes.
So we we're we're we started abest diorama or vignette or
(29:02):
scenery, if you will, category.
So we're gonna recognizesomeone there.
And then figures.
We've had such good figures.
And in the past, you know, it'sjust one of those, and it's an
armor show, but we also havefigures.
Well, by God, we're gonna we'regonna recognize the the uh the
the painter, the builder who whobrings the best figure as well.
Mike (29:22):
You're gonna have your hands full, man.
Yep.
We train for this.
Kentucky Dave (29:25):
That's good.
That's good.
Well, I expect that you weregonna take a lot of pictures and
post them on the dojo when theshow happens, and we look
forward to seeing your successbecause I have no doubt it's
gonna be a successful show.
Brandon Jacob (29:41):
Agen
We'll uh we'll be taking abunch of pictures and hopefully
it's as it's gonna be assuccessful as it's been in the
past.
Mike (29:48):
Well, we talked a little bit about it briefly before we
started recording, but youwanted to expand on the any
weather concerns?
Brandon Jacob (29:56):
Agent 003
smile on my face, but I want tosay this to all my all my
friends in Louisiana and Texasand and wherever else you're
coming from.
Winter blitz will go, willhappen, cold rain or snow.
It doesn't matter, it's gonnahappen.
As I speak, I was in my garagetoday in shorts and a and a and
a and a t-shirt.
(30:17):
I mean, it's it's sounseasonably warm here this
year, but we know January canget ugly in Texas.
And what that what happens isTexans become, oh shit, it's
cold.
And will the show go on?
Yes, it will go on.
You might have to find yourjacket, you might have to find
your hat, and it might be wet,and it might be cloudy, and it
(30:39):
might not be sunny.
Like, I guess my point is wedon't want people second
guessing.
Listen, if something horrifichappened like an ice storm, we'd
post on the website, but youknow, we're just not
rescheduling this thing.
If I'm not slipping off theroad, heading to college
station, then by God, winterblitz is happening.
Mike (30:59):
Sounds good.
Well, given your your spaceconstraints, what's the vendor
situation at uh winter blitz?
Brandon Jacob (31:05):
Agent 003
smaller but a powerful vendorroom uh in a kind of shout out.
We're we're lucky enough tohave through conjunction with
King's Hobby in Austin, there'sthere's there's sponsoring, if
you will.
Rick Lawler from AK is comingdown, and he's gonna do what he
was doing at Nationals inVirginia, where he's gonna be at
(31:26):
a table and not doing not atime presentation or a you know
a private class, butdemonstrations all day long.
So, hey, I I bought AKproducts.
Can I can Rick, could you showme how to use those?
Yes, I can.
We've got uh uh Mac McDougal ofa Dug Studio and Adam Coleman
of Ling Liang Products, they'reboth going to be in the vendor
(31:50):
room with their products, andthey both threatened to do
demonstrations as well.
We've got Mr.
Jim Root of Black Widow ModelDisposal, my good friend Jim.
He's threatened to come downand sell some some of his stuff
again.
And then finally, the the thefriendliest man in in scale
modeling, Mr.
Steve Monsella, value gear, isis dying to come back to Texas
(32:13):
and he's gonna be in the vendorroom.
So, you know, it's just a goodmix of of products and people
showing how to use products andhard to find products, and and
of course, your handful of uh uhcollection people as well.
So we're we're really excitedabout the vendor room this year.
Mike (32:32):
Well, man, it all sounds great.
And come into January, Dave andI both may wish we were in
Texas instead of Kentucky.
Brandon Jacob (32:38):
Agent 003
Southwest Airlines.
Mike (32:43):
Well, you know, that's not you're right about that.
It could if you decide if youdecide to go on a Thursday, you
could probably get a cheapflight down there if there's a
seat open.
Well, I don't need a cheapflight.
No, you don't, but I would.
Brandon Jacob (32:57):
Agent 003
guys down here at some point intime.
We would absolutely love it.
Mike (33:03):
Sounds awesome, man.
It's not like a museum, I'dlike to see whether the show was
there or not, but that wouldjust be the icing on the cake.
So uh yeah.
Kentucky Dave (33:09):
Hey Brandon, I'm playing that lottery hard.
If I hit the big one, you cancount on me showing up.
Brandon Jacob (33:15):
Agent 003
you could maybe pass on the next170 second scale to Maya Zero
and buy a ticket down here.
I hear you.
Mike (33:26):
Well, Brandon, before we go, give us one more time, the
date and time and place and youryour website information again,
so folks can uh plan on coming.
Brandon Jacob (33:35):
Agen
Winter Blitz, fifth annual,January 24th, 2026.
Held at the Museum of theAmerican GI in College Station,
Texas.
Instructions to the museum areon the website.
The website iswinter-blitz.com.
It's important to remember thehyphen, right?
Winterhyphenblitz.com.
(33:56):
Feel free to ask questions offthe website.
I I'd love, I love knowingpeople are fired up for the
show.
If you have questions, if youwant to pre-register, just go to
the website, drop me an email,and we'll we'll get you taken
care of.
And and again, soft opener, youknow, we're gonna open the
doors four o'clock on Friday.
But again, there's just notgonna be much other than just
(34:17):
registering your models, andthen we're all gonna go down to
Tad's Louisiana cooking and havea have a big dinner and then
kick it off at nine o'clock inthe morning that uh following
day.
Mike (34:28):
All right.
Well, Brandon, we sound off.
We're glad to support you onemore time and uh wish you all
the success, man.
Brandon Jacob (34:34):
Agent 003
letting me come on here andyammer on.
Kentucky Dave (34:38):
Not a problem.
Mike (34:43):
They're doing it Texas style.
Everything's bigger in Texas,even model show January.
Kentucky Dave (34:49):
That's exactly what I was thinking.
Well, that and and winter blitzjust seems to continue to grow
and evolve, and it's really kindof cool to see that from being
there when they were promotingtheir first show to now seeing
what it's grown to is reallykind of awesome.
Mike (35:10):
It is.
So, folks, if you got time toget out and you're ready to get
out by the uh 3rd of January andyou're in the New Bromfels uh
San Antonio area down there inTexas, check out Model Fiesta,
and then cruise over to CollegeStation at the end of the month
and pick up another great modelshow that continues to get
(35:32):
better.
So that's January, Dave, inTexas.
Yep.
Hope we survive the holidays.
I hope so too.
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